NCAA Prediction: Syracuse over UConn
Posted at 12:09 pm on Monday, March 13, 2006, in Uncategorized, and tagged syracuse.
I have published a rough draft of my first-look picks (in what has become an annual tradition on this blog). I tend to stay with these initial-reaction choices throughout the tournament. I never bet on my picks, which allows me to pick Syracuse to win it all, and be able to cheer for them. What a life to lead for people who root for this seed or that seed, all over a $5 buy-in and a $100 pot.
A few highlights…
- Syracuse to win it all.
- Sweet Sixteen: Duke, Syracuse, West Virginia, Texas; Memphis, Pittsburgh, Gonzaga, UCLA; Connecticut, Illinios, Michigan State, Seton Hall; and Villanova, Boston College, Florida, Ohio State.
- Six Big East teams among final 16.
- Elite Eight: Syracuse (over Duke), Texas; Memphis, UCLA; UConn, MSU; and Villanova, Florida.
- Three Big East teams among final 8.
- Final Four: Syracuse (over Texas; rematch); Memphis (1 seed); UConn (1 seed); and Florida (over Villanova).
- Title: Syracuse over UConn in the fourth meeting between the two teams; rematch of amazing Big East tournament game.
- I have chosen a few first-round upsets (I admit the 9-8 choices are not too ballsy): 14 Northwestern State over 3 Iowa; 9 Bucknell over 8 Arkansas; 11 San Diego State over 6 Indiana; 9 UAB over 8 Kentuucky; 10 Seton Hall over 7 Witchita State; and 11 UW Milwaukee over 6 Oklahoma.
- Seeds: I have two 6-seeds, two 5-seeds and a 10-seed (Seton Hall) surviving the first weekend. I have a 5-, 6- and 3-seed in the Elite 8; the rest are 1s and 2s.
I obviously made my choices on emotion. My “fantasy” top games index: a Syracuse-Texas rematch; how about a Florida over Villanova shootout; Pitt over Kansas and Seton Hall over Tennessee should be ridiculous games (Big East); and Florida over Ohio State.
And finally, the Syracuse run… Syracuse over Texas A&M, Syracuse over LSU; Syracuse over Duke, Syracuse over Texas; Syracuse over Memphis and Syracuse over UConn. (I need to catch my breath.)
pS, I will defend my picks as needed.
UPDATE: Syracuse has a tendency of placing in a Duke bracket but never meeting (as I recall)…
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